The Ultimate Guide to Cocktail Glasses: Essentials, Nice-to-Haves, and Budget-Friendly Tips
Hosting a cocktail party can feel overwhelming, especially when choosing glassware. If you’re on a budget or looking to prioritize, here’s a guide to the most essential glasses, listed by priority.
Essential Glassware
Highball Glass
Purpose:Â For tall drinks like Gin & Tonics, Mojitos, and Rum & Coke.
Why It’s Essential: Versatile and a must-have for most cocktails.
Martini Glass
Purpose:Â The classic choice for drinks served "up," like Martinis, Cosmopolitans, or Manhattans.
Why It’s Essential: Perfect for an elegant presentation.
Rocks Glass (Old Fashioned Glass)
Purpose:Â Great for short cocktails, neat spirits, or drinks on the rocks.
Why It’s Essential: A versatile glass that serves a wide variety of drinks.
Nice-to-Have Glassware
Champagne Flute
Purpose:Â Necessary for bubbly drinks like French 75s or Mimosas.
Why It’s Nice-to-Have: Adds a touch of sophistication to celebratory drinks.
Coupe Glass
Purpose:Â A stylish, vintage alternative for cocktails served "up."
Why It’s Nice-to-Have: Enhances the aesthetics but not essential if Martini glasses are available. Continue to point 6...
Find Recipes for Over 100 Cocktails
Shot Glass
Purpose:Â For serving shots or measuring spirits.
Why It’s Nice-to-Have: A practical addition for specific cocktails or portioning.
Specialty Glassware (Optional)
Hurricane Glass
Purpose:Â For tropical cocktails like Pina Coladas or Hurricanes.
Why It’s Optional: Fun but replaceable with Highball glasses.
Margarita Glass
Purpose:Â Iconic for Margaritas.
Why It’s Optional: Can be swapped with a rocks glass or coupe.
Moscow Mule Mug
Purpose:Â Specifically for Moscow Mules.
Why It’s Optional: Decorative, but a Highball glass can suffice.
Pina Colada Glass
Purpose:Â A thematic glass for creamy, tropical cocktails.
Why It’s Optional: Replaceable with Hurricane or Highball glasses.
Pilsner Glass
Purpose:Â Typically used for beer or beer-based cocktails.
Why It’s Optional: Skip unless beer is on the menu.
Budget Tips for Holding a Cocktail Party - Which Glasses
Multipurpose Glassware:Â Focus on versatile glasses like Highball, Martini, and Rocks glasses.
Renting: Consider renting glassware if it’s a one-time event.
Limited Menu:Â Offer a curated menu of drinks that suit the glassware you already own. Cocktail Glass Guide
Please scroll down to find the ideal glass for your chosen cocktail. Below is an illustration of the glasses named.
List of Cocktails and Glasses
Amaretto Sour | Rocks Glass |
Americano | Highball Glass |
Aperol Spritz | Wine Glass |
Apple Spritzer | Highball Glass |
Aviation | Martini Glass |
Baby Bellini | Champagne Flute |
Bee's Knees | Coupe Glass |
Bellini | Champagne Flute |
Black Russian | Rocks Glass |
Black Velvet | Champagne Flute |
Bloody Mary | Highball Glass |
Blue Lagoon | Highball Glass |
Boulevardier | Rocks Glass |
Bramble | Rocks Glass |
Brandy Alexander | Coupe Glass |
Caipirinha | Rocks Glass |
Caipiroska | Rocks Glass |
Clover Club | Coupe Glass |
Corpse Reviver #2 | Coupe Glass |
Cosmopolitan | Martini Glass |
Cuba Libre | Highball Glass |
Cucumber Basil Smash | Rocks Glass |
Cuddles on the Beach | Highball Glass |
Daiquiri | Coupe Glass |
Dark 'n' Stormy | Highball Glass |
El Diablo | Highball Glass |
Espresso Martini | Martini Glass |
Fig Bourbon Cider | Rocks Glass |
French 75 | Champagne Flute |
French Martini | Martini Glass |
Fuzzy Navel | Highball Glass |
Gimlet | Martini Glass |
Ginger Fizz | Highball Glass |
Godfather | Rocks Glass |
Gold Rush | Rocks Glass |
Grasshopper | Coupe Glass |
Greyhound | Highball Glass |
Hanky Panky | Martini Glass |
Harvey Wallbanger | Highball Glass |
Hemingway Daiquiri | Coupe Glass |
Horse's Neck | Highball Glass |
Hot Toddy | Irish Coffee Glass |
Hurricane | Hurricane Glass |
Irish Coffee | Irish Coffee Glass |
Jungle Bird | Hurricane Glass |
Jungle Juice | Highball Glass |
Kamikaze | Martini Glass |
Kir Royale | Champagne Flute |
Last Word | Coupe Glass |
Lavender Lemonade | Highball Glass |
Lemon Drop Martini | Martini Glass |
Long Island Iced Tea | Highball Glass |
Lynchburg Lemonade | Highball Glass |
Mai Tai | Rocks Glass |
Manhattan | Martini Glass |
Margarita | Margarita Glass |
Martini | Martini Glass |
Michelada | Highball Glass |
Mimosa | Champagne Flute |
Mint Julep | Julep Cup |
Mojito | Highball Glass |
Moscow Mule | Copper Mug |
Negroni | Rocks Glass |
Nojito | Highball Glass |
Old Fashioned | Rocks Glass |
Painkiller | Hurricane Glass |
Paloma | Highball Glass |
Paper Plane | Coupe Glass |
Pear Ginger Fizz | Highball Glass |
Pear Martini | Martini Glass |
Penicillin | Rocks Glass |
Pimm's Cup | Highball Glass |
Pina Colada | Hurricane Glass |
Pineapple Mule | Copper Mug |
Pisco Sour | Coupe Glass |
Planter's Punch | Hurricane Glass |
Red Snapper | Highball Glass |
Rob Roy | Martini Glass |
Rusty Nail | Rocks Glass |
Salty Dog | Highball Glass |
Sazerac | Rocks Glass |
Sea Breeze | Highball Glass |
Sex on the Beach | Highball Glass |
Sidecar | Coupe Glass |
Singapore Sling | Highball Glass |
Sour Cherry Gin Smash | Rocks Glass |
Southside | Coupe Glass |
Spiked Arnold Palmer | Highball Glass |
Strawberry Daiquiri | Coupe Glass |
Tequila Sunrise | Highball Glass |
Tom Collins | Collins Glass |
Vesper Martini | Martini Glass |
Virgin Mary | Highball Glass |
Virgin Mojito | Highball Glass |
Vodka Martini | Martini Glass |
Whiskey Smash | Rocks Glass |
Whiskey Sour | Rocks Glass |
White Russian | Rocks Glass |
Zombie | Hurricane Glass |